SHELL MEXPHALTE C Shell adds some sparkle to ’s tramway system

CASE STUDY:

A special asphalt mixture of aggregates, Bordeaux’s tramway really stands out thanks to recycled glass and Shell’s binder, Shell Shell’s Mexphalte C

Mexphalte C, is having a sparkling effect Critical Success Factors: Close customer relationship on the road around Bordeaux’s tramway Product properties line in South West . Proven track record Application: Asphalt mixed with aggregates The regional capital of Aquitaine in South West and recycled glass France, Bordeaux, is served by three lines of Volume: 500 tonnes of Shell Mexphalte C tramway carrying over 110,000 passengers Product family: Shell Mexphalte C every day. The original design created over Client: et Bus de la CUB 21km which has since extended to over 27km Contractor: Screg South West of tramway. Endurable, adorable and affordable The architects in charge of the project set a challenging specification for the asphalt surface surrounding the tramlines. The main areas were safety, comfort, appearance and importantly the mix needed to provide excellent performance at traffic crossings. The special asphalt used on the surrounding roadway around the tramlines has unique photometric properties. Its surface sparkles when it is exposed to sunlight, artificial light or light from traffic. Shell Mexphalte C, Shell Bitumen’s pigmentable binder, played an important role at the design stage to ensure the effectiveness of this special characteristic.

“Scintiflex, was usually used on roads along France’s South West coast. The Bordeaux tramway represented Scintiflex’s first application on a tramway and it was also the first time that Shell Mexphalte C was used in France for this type of application.” Cedric Leroux, Shell France’s Bitumen Technical Department

A partnership approach Scintiflex, the product that offers the unique photometric properties, is produced by Screg South West, one of Shell’s clients. Shell Bitumen’s Technical department provided technical support to Screg South West’s personnel that enabled Scintiflex, based on Shell Mexphalte C, to be selected from a number of other options for this project. In order to highlight Scintiflex greenish-grey colour, and its sparkling effect, it was proposed to the architects that Shell Mexphalte C, a fairly transparent binder when used with any pigment, was the most appropriate binder for the job. Cedric added: “Safety was an important criterion for choosing Scintiflex as it’s easily seen by motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. It would attract their attention and signal to them that they were on a road which also catered for .”

For further information please contact your Shell Bitumen representative or visit; www.shell.com/bitumen

The Shell emblem, Mexphalte C and SHELL are trade marks of the Shell Group.

03/2011/ CS6